Christian politician quits Egypt's upper house

Opposition says new constitution does nothing to protect minorities

Published: 12/27/2012 at 11:43 PM

(Reuters) An Islamist minister quit Egypt’s government on Thursday, the second cabinet resignation this week, as President Mohamed Mursi tries to shore up his authority and gather support for unpopular austerity measures.

Earlier on Thursday, a Christian member of Egypt’s upper house of parliament, Nadia Henry, quit a day after the Islamist-dominated chamber took over legislative authority under the new constitution.

The charter crafted by an Islamist-dominated assembly is meant to be the cornerstone of a democratic and economically stable Egypt after decades of authoritarian rule. The opposition says it does nothing to protect minorities.